Gold Cup day crowd down but Wagga carnival still proves a winner for punters and participants

A crowd of just over 7000 turned out for Wagga Gold Cup day, down 2000 on last year.

But with 10,000 through the turnstiles over the two days, and brilliant racing on-track, Murrumbidgee Turf Club was happy with how the carnival unfolded.

“It was a terrific two days of racing,” MTC chief executive Scott Sanbrook said.

“For two of the biggest stables in Australia to win the feature races was a terrific endorsement for our major two days and I’m sure with the glowing praise we had for the track that they will be back again next year.”

The Waterhouse stable and Tommy Berry led a chorus of praise for the Wagga track, which played exceptionally over the two days.

Sanbrook was disappointed with the Cup day crowd figure but does not believe it detracted from the event.

“Town Plate day was huge and the crowd figure for Cup day was slightly disappointing,” he said.

“The atmosphere and feel of the day though, you couldn’t ask for any better.”

After strong betting turnover on Town Plate day, Cup day’s figures were not yet finalised but MTC aim to have turned over $2.5 million on Friday.